Improvement in magneto-electric gas-lighting apparatus



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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALMON N. ALLEN AND RODNEY H. '1)EVEY, OF PITTSFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN MAGNETO-ELECTHIC GAS-LIGHTING APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 116,660, dated July 4, 1871.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALMON N. ALLEN and RODNEY H. DEWEY, of Pittseld, inthe county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and Improved Ma gneto-Electrie Gas-Lighting Apparatus; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the sa1ne,rei' erence being had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification, in which drawmg- Figure 1 represents a sectional iront view ot' this invention. Fig'. 2 shows the gas-valve detached, when it is closed, in a larger scale than the previous iigure. Fig. 3 shows the gas-valve when open. Figs. 4, 5, and (i are modifications, which will be explained as the description progresses.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an apparatus for lighting gas by electric sparks produced by amagneto-electrie machine, to the helices oiwhich motion is imparted by the action oi' a current oi" air, while the valve through which. gas is admitted to the burner is also opened and closed by the action of a current of air.

In the drawing, A designates a gas-burner, to which gas is admitted through pipe, B, which pipe is opened or closed by a valve, C. The gas is lighted by sparks produced by a magnetoelectric machine, D, the helices a a of which are mounted on an arm, I), secured to an arbor, c. On this arbor is also mounted a bucket-wheel, d, which may be inclosed in a stationary case, d', and which is acted on by a current of air admitted through the pipe c. On the arbor c is also-` mounted the commutator f, and from the commutator-springs g ItA extend wires j up over the gas-burner, where they are connected by a coil, k, of thin platina wire. Vhen a current of air is admitted through the pipe c the arbor c revolves and an electric current is passed through the wires 'l j, whereby the platina coil is rapidly brought to a red heat, and, if gas is made to issue from the burner, the red-hot platina wire causes the gas to ignite. The valve C which serves to open and closethe gas-pipe B is mounted on an arbor, l, and it is constructed with a toe, m, on which bears a spring, n, (see Figs. 2 and 3,) and which is so situated in relation to the arbor l that when the valve is brought in the position shown in Fig. 2 the spring acting on the toe has a tendency to keep the valve closed down upon the mouth of the pipe; but ir' the valve is turned open, and as soon as the point ofthe toe has passed the line oi' equilibrium, the spring n throws the valve up to the position shown in Fig. 3. From the arbor l extends an arm, o, and if the arbor is caused to revolve a pin, p, projecting from this arbor strikes the arm o and imparts to the arbor l a partial revolution, and by this motion oi' the arbor l the valve C is partially opened, carrying the toe m beyond the line or' equilibrium, so that the spring ln throws the valve up to the position shown in Fig. 3, and the arm o clears the pin l) and allows the arbor c to revolve freely. As the valve U is opened, the gas issuing' from the burner A strikes the coil of platina wire and it is ignited. r1`he motion of the arbor c is then stopped and the gas is kept burning as long as it may be desired. Then the gas is to be extinguished the gas-valve C is closed bythe action oi' a pin, q, which projects from an arbor, o', and acts on an arm, s, extending from the arbor I, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. On the arbor r is mounted a bucket-wheel, i, inclosed in a stationary case, u, and a current or' air admitted through a pipe, o, imparts to said bucket-wheel and to the arbor r the required rotary motion. NVhen the pin q strikes the arm s the arbor Z is turned so as to close the valve C, and as soon as the toe m on said valve has passed the line of equilibrium the spring L takes eti'ect and the valve extends down upon the gas-pipes, carrying the arm s clear oi' the pin q. At the same time the arm o is turned back in the path oi' the pin p of the arbor c, so that the gas can be let on and ignited, as before stated.

In practice, we propose to use a magneto-electric machine oi' the most approved construction, and we do not wish to be confined to the precise construction shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Vhen our invention is to be applied for lighting and extinguishing the gas in the streets ot a city, an apparatus substantially such as herein described will be put up in each gas-post, and the air-pipes e and o are connected with a reservoir containing air under pressure, or with the air-trunk of a large fan-blower or any other machine capable of iinpelling air either by force or by suction, and, if the gas is to be lighted, the

air-pipes e leading to the several gas-posts are opened for a short time until all the flames are burning, and then said pipes are closed. Then the gas is to be extinguished the air-pipes fz) are opened and the valves C in the several gas-posts are closed. In Fig. et we have shown an apparatus in which the gas-valve is opened by an impelled current of air, and closed by a current of air produced by suction. In this case the pipes e and c are branches of one and the same pipe et, which connects with an airpump capable of producing an impelled current of air or a current by suction. Only one bucket-wheel is used, and the case d of this wheel is closed at one end by a valve, The pipe c is also closed by a valve, et, which is mounted on the spindle l carrying the gasvalve C. Vhen a current of air is forced through the pipe the bucketwheel d revolves and the valve 'vii is forced open, so that the gas-valve is opened by the action of the tappet p on the arm 0, assisted by the pressure ofthe air having a tendency to open the valve If the gas-valve is to be closed the current of the air in the pipe ci: is reversed, (being now produced by suction,) the valve dit on the wheel-case d closes, causing the gas-valve (l to close at the same time. The valve di* on the wheel-ease is shown in Fig. 5, and the valve on the pipe v in Fig. 6. rlhe last-named valve moves in a casing, c2, which is provided with a stop near its outer end to prevent said valve from opening too far.

rhe magneto-electric machine shown in Fig. 4 differs somewhat from that shown in Fig. 1, the wire j being hinged at and exposed to the action of a spring, j?, and a ratchet-whecl, ji, so that its point is alternately brought in contact with the wire i and thenremoved therefrmn, and every time the two wires are separated a spark is produced which serves to ignite the gas suing from the burner. In this case the coil. k of platina wire can be dispensed with.

Vliat we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. rIhe method, substantially as herein described, for admitting gz s to a burner, and igniting the same, by a magneto-electric machine connected with the burner and actuated by a current of air, which also serves to open the gasvalve, as set forth.

2. rI'he airpipe c and bucket-wheel d, in combination with the arbors c I, magneto-electrio machine I), gas-valve C and burner A, snbstanA tially as shown and described.

3. The arbor r and bucket-wheel. t, in combination with the arbor Z, valve (j, and burner A, substantially as set forth.

4L. rIhe toe m. and spring a, in combinationwith the valve C, arbor l, arms 0 s, and pins p q, projecting from the arbor c, substantially as described.

5. The method, substantially as described, of extinguishing gas-llames by means of a current of air acting on the valve which controls the iiow of gas to the burner, as set forth.

ALMON N. ALLEE. RODNEY II. DEWEY. Vitnesses Trios. P. PiNGnnn, J Aims M. Banana. 

